Patents by Inventor William Lawrence Byrne
William Lawrence Byrne has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9803865Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute an exhaust flow circumferentially around the head end chamber. The flow distributor includes at least one exhaust gas flow path.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
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Patent number: 9631815Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute at least one of an exhaust flow, an oxidant flow, an oxidant-exhaust mixture, or any combination thereof circumferentially around the head end chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
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Patent number: 9574496Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow separator configured to separate a first exhaust flow from an oxidant flow. The flow separator is configured to direct the first exhaust flow into the head end chamber. The turbine combustor also includes a mixing region configured to mix the first exhaust flow with the oxidant flow to provide an oxidant-exhaust mixture.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde, William Lawrence Byrne, Carolyn Ashley Antoniono
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Patent number: 9422827Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus having an elongated body configured to be inserted into a tubular structure extending between a first combustor and a second combustor of a gas turbine engine. A movable arm may be positioned proximate to a first end of the elongated body, and the movable arm may be configured to engage a surface of the first combustor when the elongated body is placed within the tubular structure. A drive member may be accessible near a second end of the elongated body, and the drive member may be configured to rotate within the elongated body and to drive the movable arm along a longitudinal axis of the elongated body toward the second end to separate the tubular structure from the second combustor.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Devin Patrick Perkins, William Lawrence Byrne
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Patent number: 9010127Abstract: A transition piece aft frame assembly is provided, and includes a transition piece aft frame and a heat shield. The transition piece aft frame has an aft face. At least a portion of the aft face is exposed to an exhaust gas stream. The heat shield is connected to the transition piece aft frame. The heat shield is oriented to generally deflect the exhaust gas stream away from the aft face of the transition piece aft frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Christopher Paul Willis, William Lawrence Byrne, David William Cihlar, Donald Timothy Lemon, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Publication number: 20150052910Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus having an elongated body configured to be inserted into a tubular structure extending between a first combustor and a second combustor of a gas turbine engine. A movable arm may be positioned proximate to a first end of the elongated body, and the movable arm may be configured to engage a surface of the first combustor when the elongated body is placed within the tubular structure. A drive member may be accessible near a second end of the elongated body, and the drive member may be configured to rotate within the elongated body and to drive the movable arm along a longitudinal axis of the elongated body toward the second end to separate the tubular structure from the second combustor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Devin Patrick Perkins, William Lawrence Byrne
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Publication number: 20140182304Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute an oxidant flow circumferentially around the head end chamber. The flow distributor includes at least one oxidant flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric CompanyInventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
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Publication number: 20140182302Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute at least one of an exhaust flow, an oxidant flow, an oxidant-exhaust mixture, or any combination thereof circumferentially around the head end chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric CompanyInventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
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Publication number: 20140182305Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, a mixing region configured to mix an exhaust flow with an oxidant flow to provide an oxidant-exhaust mixture, and a flow distributor configured to distribute the oxidant-exhaust mixture circumferentially around the head end chamber. The flow distributor includes at least one oxidant-exhaust mixture path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric CompanyInventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
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Publication number: 20140182303Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow distributor configured to distribute an exhaust flow circumferentially around the head end chamber. The flow distributor includes at least one exhaust gas flow path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric CompanyInventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, William Lawrence Byrne, Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde
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Publication number: 20140182301Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor that includes a head end portion having a head end chamber, a combustion portion having a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the head end chamber, a cap disposed between the head end chamber and the combustion chamber, and a flow separator configured to separate a first exhaust flow from an oxidant flow. The flow separator is configured to direct the first exhaust flow into the head end chamber. The turbine combustor also includes a mixing region configured to mix the first exhaust flow with the oxidant flow to provide an oxidant-exhaust mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric CompanyInventors: Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde, William Lawrence Byrne, Carolyn Ashley Antoniono
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Patent number: 8528839Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes a single-piece swirler. The single-piece swirler includes a center body extending axially along the single-piece swirler, a first fuel passage inside the center body, and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body. A method for fabricating a combustor nozzle includes casting a single-piece swirler having a center body and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Donald Mark Bailey, William Lawrence Byrne, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Publication number: 20130227964Abstract: A transition piece aft frame assembly is provided, and includes a transition piece aft frame and a heat shield. The transition piece aft frame has an aft face. At least a portion of the aft face is exposed to an exhaust gas stream. The heat shield is connected to the transition piece aft frame. The heat shield is oriented to generally deflect the exhaust gas stream away from the aft face of the transition piece aft frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2012Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Christopher Paul Willis, William Lawrence Byrne, David William Cihlar, Donald Timothy Lemon, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Patent number: 8479519Abstract: A method and apparatus for a diffusion tip for use with a fuel nozzle is described. The diffusion tip has a substantially circular body including an outer surface and an opposite inner surface. The diffusion tip body extends from a discharge end to an inlet end. The diffusion tip includes an inlet surface adjacent to the discharge end and defined within the body. A discharge surface is defined opposite the inlet surface. A plurality of diffusion apertures each extend between the discharge surface and the inlet surface, each aperture is oriented relative to the body to discharge a diffusion flow outward therefrom at an angle ? (gamma) measured in an X-Z plane between a centerline of the aperture and an X-axis extending tangentially to the outer surface, and at an angle ? (theta) measured in a Y-Z plane between the centerline of the aperture and a Y-axis extending radially outward from the centerline.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wei Chen, William Lawrence Byrne, Xiaoguang Yu, James Harper
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Publication number: 20120304657Abstract: A flexible annular seal for insertion between concentrically assembled turbine combustor components includes an annular inner seal portion having a first solid annular edge and first plurality of spring fingers extending axially from the first solid annular edge; and an annular outer seal portion having a second solid annular edge and a second plurality of spring fingers extending axially from the second solid edge and overlying the first plurality of spring fingers such that the inner and outer seal portions are substantially fully engaged along an entire length dimension of the flexible annular seal. The second plurality of spring fingers are circumferentially offset from the first plurality of spring fingers, and free ends of the first plurality of spring fingers are bent around and over free ends of the second plurality of spring fingers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Patrick Benedict MELTON, Keith Cletus Belsom, Thomas Edward Johnson, William Lawrence Byrne, Robert Joseph Rohrssen
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Publication number: 20120181354Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes a single-piece swirler. The single-piece swirler includes a center body extending axially along the single-piece swirler, a first fuel passage inside the center body, and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body. A method for fabricating a combustor nozzle includes casting a single-piece swirler having a center body and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the center body.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Donald Mark Bailey, William Lawrence Byrne, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Publication number: 20120174589Abstract: An end cover assembly is provided in combination with a gas turbine combustor for capping a back end of a combustion chamber. The end cover assembly includes an end cover plate securable to the back end of the combustion chamber, and a monolith block secured to the end cover plate. The end cover plate is constructed without welded gas passage plates and without brazed flow passage inserts and includes fuel channels therethrough, where the fuel channels are sized and positioned to interact with fuel nozzle inlet ports. The monolith block includes internal fuel gas passages positioned relative to the fuel channels in the end cover plate to commute fuel gas to the fuel channels of the end cover plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Patrick Benedict Melton, William Lawrence Byrne
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Publication number: 20100170249Abstract: A method and apparatus for a diffusion tip for use with a fuel nozzle is described. The diffusion tip has a substantially circular body including an outer surface and an opposite inner surface. The diffusion tip body extends from a discharge end to an inlet end. The diffusion tip includes an inlet surface adjacent to the discharge end and defined within the body. A discharge surface is defined opposite the inlet surface. A plurality of diffusion apertures each extend between the discharge surface and the inlet surface, each aperture is oriented relative to the body to discharge a diffusion flow outward therefrom at an angle ? (gamma) measured in an X-Z plane between a centerline of the aperture and an X-axis extending tangentially to the outer surface, and at an angle ? (theta) measured in a Y-Z plane between the centerline of the aperture and a Y-axis extending radially outward from the centerline.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventors: Wei Chen, William Lawrence Byrne, Xiaoguang Yu, James Harper